THE FOOTNOTES

ELLINGTON HIGH SCHOOOL 1974

Still just as comfy

Th ;minesweeper, on which Bob,served took part in the invasions of Leyte in the Philippines. This marked the "return" of General Douglas MacArthur; ;next was the invasion at Lingayen Gulf also in the Phlippines; then the invasion of Okinawa; The ship survived 4 typhoons at sea, the final one in October, 1945, at Okinawa, saw the ship run aground damaging a drive shaft. This damage proved to be the end of the ship's ability to perform sweeping duties and sent us back to the states on one engine. We were fortunate that the ship held together going back to California. The seas off the coast of California are rough, and we struggled with only one engine to come into San Pedro harbor. we came along side the dock the order was given "back her down" at which point the other main engine failed. Exquisite timing

A highlight of my career and life at Ellington High 1974

 

Bob hosted at the Slater Museum at Norwich Free Academy for a number of years. NFA is the public high school in Norwich and is the art department. The Slater is an undiscovered gem and people seeing it for the first time are amazed at what is there.